Auto accidents happen every day, all across the country. While many of these incidents are relatively minor, many are the cause of serious harm to the passengers in the vehicles, and others. Personal injury attorneys deal with many cases involving soft tissue trauma sustained in car wrecks. Soft tissue damages may seem less severe than broken bones, but auto accident lawyers understand how these damages can be just as significant as other injuries sustained in a car wreck.
Some Accident Injury Statistics
Every year in the United States, as many as 2.5 million people visit the emergency room after sustaining trauma in auto accidents1. Of those wounded, an estimated 200,000 people are hospitalized with more severe damages, while the others are treated and allowed to go home. Many of these injuries cause damage to soft tissue alone. The cost associated with bodily injuries due to car wrecks is as much as $18 Billion annually2. Three-fourths of that expense is spent within the first 18 months after an injury, while the remaining amount is spent beyond those 18 months, sometimes due to long-term problems associated with soft tissue trauma.
What Are Soft Tissue Injuries?
Soft tissue injuries are the damages experienced by any soft part of the body, as opposed to the bones or to broken skin. The soft body parts affected by this are the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Soft tissue damages, including sprains, strains, whiplash, and bruises or contusions that do not break the skin are very common in car crashes. Many of these injuries are minor, but some may not be. Although soft tissue damage can seem less severe than other types of trauma, personal injury attorneys know that it can have long-lasting or even permanent effects. Depending on the location of the trauma, those injured may suffer from permanent pain, impairment, or other long-term complications.
When Soft Tissue Injuries Are Sustained
Auto accident lawyers stress that anyone who is involved in a car crash should immediately seek medical attention, even for seemingly minor trauma, as many soft tissue injuries tend to worsen over time. Seeking immediate medical treatment establishes that an injury did occur, even if the initial complaints seemed minor. Then if any new symptoms should arise or existing trauma worsen, subsequent medical treatment can be taken into consideration when a personal injury claim is filed.
Soft tissue injuries are a common occurrence in many auto accidents. Although soft tissue trauma may seem minor, personal injury attorneys understand that it can actually be quite severe. Damage claims pertaining to whiplash and other soft tissue trauma sustained in car wrecks can be complicated, especially when this type of trauma worsens or becomes chronic. This is why it is important to work with lawyers experienced with auto accidents after being injured in a car wreck.
Hildebrand & Wilson, Attorneys at Law
7930 Broadway, Suite 122
Pearland TX 77581
1CDC Vital Signs: Motor Vehicle Crash Injuries, October 2014
2CDC Vital Signs: Health Burden and Medical Costs of Nonfatal Injuries to Motor Vehicle Occupants, October 2012
